Multi-word verbs / Phrasal verbs
Meaning and use
Multi-word verbs are verbs that combine with one or two particles, which may be adverbs or
prepositions, to make new verbs. They are sometimes called phrasal verbs. A lot of common
verbs do this and many of them can combine with several different particles. Each one changes
the meaning of the verb.
Shall we give away all the old books in the office? (give them to someone else)
He kept on arguing so in the end I gave in. (decide to agree with someone)
I’ll just have water. I’m trying to give up coffee. (stop doing or using something)
Sometimes you can guess the meaning of a phrasal verb because it is related to the main verb.
Look at this example again.
Shall we give away all the old books in the office?
The meaning is clearly related to the verb give, in the other two examples above though, the
meaning has completely changed. Phrasal verbs are often used in spoken and informal English
instead of a more formal verb.
I don’t believe that story. I think he made it up! (invented it)
Come to my office and we’ll talk it over. (discuss it)
‘Is the meeting still on today?’ ‘No, they’ve called it off.’ (cancelled it)
Form
There are four different types of phrasal verbs.
Type 1 Separable phrasal verbs
They are transitive (= they have an object). Most phrasal verbs are this type.
He’s set up a meeting. / He’s set a meeting up. I’ve worked out the answer./ I’ve worked the
answer out. He gave it up. NOT: He gave up it.
Notice that you can put the object after the phrasal verb, but you can also separate the main verb
and the particle. If you use an object pronoun, you must always separate the main verb and the
particle.
He’s set it up NOT: He’s set up it.
Type 2 Non-separable phrasal verbs 1
They are transitive (= they have an object), but you can never separate the two parts of the verb.
Prepositional verbs (verbs that are followed by a preposition and not an adverb) are always of
this type.
You can get on the bus right outside the building. NOT: You can get the bus on right outside
the building. He looks after my child. NOT: He looks my child after.
I completely disagree with him. NOT: I completely disagree him with.
Type 3 Non-separable phrasal verbs 2
They are intransitive (=they don’t have an object) and you can’t separate the two parts of the
verb.
Watch out! There’s a car coming. Unfortunately the deal has fallen through.
Why don’t you drop in on your way home?
Type 4 Three-part phrasal verbs
They have an adverb and a preposition followed by a direct object. You can’t separate the parts
of the phrasal verb. Mark’s come up with a brilliant new idea. I was nervous, but determined
to go through with it.
You should always stand up for what you think is right.
Take note: Type 3 and Type 4 phrasal verbs
Some phrasal verbs are both Type 3 and Type 4. You can add a preposition so that the Type 3
verb can have an object. "Where’s the paper for the photocopier?" "I think we’ve run out. Jake!
Have we run out of paper for the photocopier?"
Pronunciation
For most phrasal verbs, the main stress is on the adverb.
He kept on arguing so in the end I gave in.
I don’t think I can put up with it any more.
But for prepositional verbs, the main stress is on the verb.
I completely agree with you.
